Holladay played a dominant part in both the railroad construction and the politics of Oregon (the two were closely related) (35) for the decade following his arrival. As a part of his promotion he started the Portland Daily Bulletin, with James O'Meara as editor. Holladay did things "in a big way." For the Bulletin he moved north the entire plant of the San Francisco Times, formerly the Town Talk, when the paper was taken over by the Alta California in 1869 (36). Holladay, none too ethical but a driving promoter, stirred up Oregon business conditions and did put through the eastside railroad, which was completed from Portland to Roseburg by December, 1872. The properties, however, could not at that time pay interest on the investment. The bonds were defaulted; and the on behalf of German bondholders ensuing investigation brought Henry Villard to Oregon. A former newspaper man, press correspondent in the Civil war, Villard in time became a much greater railroad magnate than Holladay ever had been. Public-spirited and generous, he did much for both Oregon and Washington, saving the life of the University of Oregon by a substantial gift when the sheriff was at the door to seize the struggling institution's property for debt in the early eighties.
But to get back to the Bulletin. It was a neat and well-edited newspaper, and it is the only newspaper aside from the Oregonian ever to engage regularly the services of Harvey W. Scott. When the Henry W. Corbett interests bought a heavy block of Oregonian stock from Henry L. Pittock in 1872 the resignation of Scott as editor followed, and for several months in 1873 he was occupied with the editorship of the Bulletin. In the issue of December 7, 1872, appeared announcement of the change of ownership, involving the retirement of Holladay. The new owners were a stock company in which Harvey W. Scott, late of the Oregonian, and J. N. Dolph were interested. Scott, succeeding O'Meara as editor, remained only a few months, devoting his energies for the next three years largely to his position as collector of customs, which he had held since 1870. During that period he contributed occasionally to Portland newspapers, including the New Northwest, conducted by his sister, Abigail Scott Duniway.
Scott was succeeded on the Bulletin by T. B. Odeneal, formerly of Corvallis, who became editor and manager. The paper was definitely on the decline before either Scott or Odeneal had a chance to do anything for it. Known as the Holladay organ, it failed to pick up popularity even after the withdrawal of Holladay, and Odeneal suspended publication in October 1875. Holladay's little journey into journalism had cost him, according to his own story told to several Portlanders, nearly $200,000, representing money invested which failed to return. It was one of the most complete newspaper debacles in the history of Oregon. The plant was sold at auction and scattered.
